Coaches

RISEBALL LEADERSHIP & STAFF

Bill Edwards, Retired, Hofstra University
Hall of Fame Coach
RiseBall Camps Partner

Co-founder of Rise Ball Camps and Clinics. Coach Edwards retired after the 2014 season after completing 25 seasons at Hofstra University. One of the best clinicians and sought after speakers in the country. Coach Edwards led the Pride to 14 NCAA tournament appearances, 3 NCAA regional finals, and 1 NCAA regional championship. Coach Edwards has been named Regional Coach of the year 12 times, and as a result of his success with the Pride, he was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

Roy Kortmann, Retired, Long Island University
RiseBall Camps Partner

Co-founder of Rise Ball Camps & Clinics. Coach Roy Kortmann retired in 2024 after his 30th season at the helm of the LIU-Brooklyn softball program. Coach Roy built a perennial softball powerhouse in downtown Brooklyn with 819 career victories, wins over teams from all power 4 conferences in the country and numerous wins over Top 25 ranked teams. He has lead his teams to 12 regular season NEC championships, 11 NEC tournament championships, 11 NCAA tournament appearances, a Regional Final in 2010 and to the NEC conference championship game 19 of the past 23 years. Coach Roy has been named NEC Coach of the year 10 times and NFCA Regional Staff of the year on 3 occasions. An experienced clinician, teacher and motivational leader,he has helped develop four Division 1 All Americans and numerous All Region and Academic All Americans while maintaining his teams as some of the top GPA leaders in the classroom. Coach Roy served on the D1 All-American Committee, the NFCA top 25 committee and the NCAA Championship committee. Off the diamond, Coach Roy is the executive director of the Our Treat non-profit which delivers meals to families with a member battling cancer. Coach Roy also provides Elite Sports Parenting seminars for youth organizations across a variety of sports.

Jay Nelson, Retired Rutgers University
RiseBall Camps Partner

Co-founder of Rise Ball Camps & Clinics and current Head Coach for the Greek National Team. Coach Nelson retired as the head coach at Rutgers University at the end of the 2018 season. He led his team to their first ever Big 10 conference tournament in 2016 and led the 2010 Rutgers team to their 1st Big East tournament and another Big East tournament appearance in 2012. An experienced clinician, Coach Nelson was as a top assistant at Seton Hall University for 10 years prior to Rutgers, where he helped guide the Pirates to two Big East Championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances and part of a staff that garnered two regional Coaching Staff of the Year awards.